Oceans and Coasts

Besides showcasing the architectural expertise and aesthetics of their time, temple tanks also play an extremely important role as water storage systems in Chennai. Chennai has 39 temple tanks (excluding the suburban area) according to a study conducted in 2008.  As the rains arrived, a few temple tanks in the city were filled to the brim with water, thus helping in groundwater recharge while offering a spectacular view for devotees.

Floods are an annual phenomenon in Assam. They are as integral to the state as the Brahmaputra River is, and each monsoon, we are reminded that Assam exists (or is drowning). As I write this piece, Assam is slowly recovering from the first wave of flood this monsoon.

Straddling land and sea and swarming with life, mangroves are key to healthy coastal ecosystems. They are recognised for their role as storm barriers, protecting coastal areas from flooding and erosion by dissipating the energy of huge waves. They act as nurseries for fish, help filter river water of pollutants and trap excess sediment before it reaches the ocean. Increasingly, mangrove protection and restoration is being acknowledged as a viable option for mitigating the effects of growing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

Powerhouses for carbon storage

Government rolls out plan to revive springs across the country

The Jal Shakti Ministry has proposed a pilot project for spring inventory and rejuvenation in the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, and has suggested that similar projects of springs management be taken up in rest of the country with the active involvement of several other ministries.

Government cuts budget for Jal Shakti Ministry by 9.4 percent; increases funds for rural drinking water mission 

New Delhi, June 25 (India Science Wire): A new study by Wildlife Conservation Society-India has emphasised the need for awareness campaigns, involvement of local stakeholders in decision-making and empowerment of authorities to help promote protection of marine species. 

The study, based on a survey in Andaman Islands involving enforcement authorities, traders, middlemen and fishermen, found that there was so much lack of awareness that many did not even known which department or authority was responsible for implementing Wildlife Protection Act. 

Swachh Bharat Mission reduced groundwater contamination: UNICEF

A citizen science project led by UNSW engineers in Sydney, Australia is leveraging thousands of crowd-sourced photos from social media, helping create new insights into how beaches respond to changing weather and wave conditions, and extreme storms – and now a new study has shown the program to be nearly as accurate and effective as professional shoreline monitoring equipment.

At most inter-state boundaries, Ganga's faecal coliform level exceeds limit